Representing the 15th District of Texas

You are here

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) has cosponsored H.R. 1017, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2017, in response to constituent and citizen requests from Seguin, Brownsville, Laredo and other parts of Texas.

“This legislation has the potential to remove a barrier to receiving life-saving preventative care, namely the fear of getting a bill,” Congressman Gonzalez said. “Assuring our Medicare recipients that services are indeed covered under the law, brings us one step closer to making sure more Americans get this important screening.”

According to recent studies conducted by the American Cancer Society, deaths from colorectal cancer have been declining for more than two decades, and this decline is affirmatively linked to screening including colonoscopies and other tests.

This bill simply eliminates unexpected costs for Medicare beneficiaries when a polyp is discovered and removed. By ensuring that unexpected copays do not deter a patient from having the screening perform, the policy will promote better healthcare decision making by individuals.